Letter to the Editor: Farmers have been feebly led by IFA top brass

Irish beef farmers are on their knees, with everyone telling them to stay there. Why is this, that such an obviously important sector is so politically weak? It’s because they have been so feebly led, by leaders with always an eye to their own future advancement, as presidents of other more lucrative organisations, or as TDs. The IFA should make it a stipulation of their constitution that any top functionary of the organisation would commit to not seeking public office for the 15 years following their presidency. That might thin out the herd, as it were.

Irish beef farmers might then get some real leadership, focused on the farmers rather than on career-making, and we might see them get a fair shake.